Answer to Question #125619 in Physics for Mwansa Kunda

Question

The value of the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the Earth is 9.81N/kg and on the surface of Venus the magnitude of the acceleration due to gravity is 8.6N/kg. An astronaut has a weight of 586.6N on the surface of the Earth, what will be her mass and weight on the surface of Venus?

Answer 1

First, find the mass of the astronaut:

$$m=P_e/g_e=586.6/9.81=59.8\text{ kg}.$$

Since we assume that the astronaut does not move with a speed close to the speed of light and since mass is volume of body times density of human body, the mass on the Venus will be the same.

The weight on the Venus will be

$$P_v=mg_v=59.8\cdot8.6=514.3\text{ N}.$$